Boots and Roses: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 5 Read online

  “How ’bout letting her choose?”

  “That’s kinda what I had in mind.” Cory grinned. “You and I have shared a woman before. But this is different. I want something long term. I want to know she’ll be there for me, to go the distance.”

  “And I don’t?”

  Cory shrugged. “You haven’t had a steady relationship since before I knew you.”

  Jack tipped his head. “Just because I haven’t had a steady woman, doesn’t mean I don’t want one.”

  “Are you tellin’ me you’re over what happened to Stacy?”

  Jack’s lips tightened and he glanced to the far corner.

  “Sorry.” Cory laid a hand on his arm. “I know it hurts to talk about her.”

  Stacy had been Jack’s girlfriend in college. They’d been inseparable from the moment they’d met. She’d died in a senseless accident that almost cost Jack his own life. When he’d woken up a week later, he’d missed the funeral. He’d also missed any opportunity for closure or goodbyes.

  Jack had dropped out of school and gone to work. Stripping. He’d been on a collision course with hell until he met Cory.

  Jack shook off Cory’s hand and stepped away. “I don’t really think I’ll ever be over her. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get on with my life.”

  Cory slung an arm over Jack’s shoulder. “There’s not much I won’t share with you, man, but Bunny is special.”

  “Don’t I know it.” Jack glanced across at Cory. “Since Stacy died, Bunny’s the first woman I can’t forget about when I close my eyes at night. I’m one kick in the pants short of falling in love with her, if I haven’t already.”

  Cory nodded. “Then we have a problem.”

  Jack frowned. “Yeah, both of us want her, but only one of us can have her—if the woman is amenable.”

  Cory stared straight ahead. “You and I have been pretty close, gone through a lot together and been there for each other, right?”

  With a nod, Jack answered, “Yup.”

  “You taught me how to defend myself.”

  Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “And you kicked my ass until I went back to school and finished my degree.”

  “We’re so close we’re joined at the hip in investments, and we’re goin’ in half on the same piece of property.”

  “Yeah. So?”

  “What do you say we give Bunny the choice? If she’s willing, she can have either one of us…or both.”

  His frown deepening, Jack seemed to chew on Cory’s words before he responded. “I know we shared Maxy Palmer last year when we went to Fiesta in San Antonio. It was fun and all, but this is Bunny we’re talkin’ about, not a one-night stand.”

  “I know that.” God, he knew that. “And I don’t want to scare her off any more than you do.”

  “Then how’s this gonna work?”

  “I’m not exactly sure, but Mark and Luke Gray Wolf share Libby and she seems more than happy with the arrangement,” Cory said. “I don’t see why we can’t share Bunny.”

  Jack’s lips twisted. “From what I’ve seen of Bunny, she’s not as free-spirited or streetwise as Libby. I don’t think she’ll go for it.”

  Cory let his arm drop from Jack’s shoulders and turned to face his friend, the idea blossoming. “It only makes sense. We’re both interested in her, right?”

  Jack nodded. “Looks that way.”

  “We’re as close as two men can get.” Cory grinned. “Hell, you’re family, like my brother Nick.”

  “Same to you, man.” Jack’s lips lifted in a half-cocked smile. “So you think we can share Bunny and not jack up our friendship?”

  “I can, if you can.” Cory stuck out his hand. “But it’s still up to Bunny.”

  Jack stared at Cory’s hand, then gripped it in a firm handshake. “Deal.” He pulled Cory into a bear hug.

  Cory pulled back and clapped his hands together. “We got us a woman to court.”

  “How are we gonna do that?” Jack asked.

  A slow smile slid across Cory’s face. “It’s all part of my plan.”

  Jack frowned. “I was afraid of that.”

  For forty-five minutes, Bunny left the paddle on the bar, refusing to give in to her loneliness and bid on a paid-for pity date. One by one the men paraded around the stage, women bid and the gavel banged. One by one the chance for a date passed and Bunny slipped deeper into a blue funk.

  Her lips still tingled from the contact with Cory’s and Jack’s, and she raised her hand to touch her mouth. No vibrator had affected her as much as those earth-shaking kisses. Once again, Bunny considered Audrey’s words. Maybe it was time for her to get out in the dating pool again and give love a second chance.

  “Hold on to your belt buckles, ladies,” Charli said with a flourish. “Here to introduce the final act, the woman who made the Cowboy Auction possible, Audrey Anderson.”

  Audrey stepped up on the stage with Deputy Monahan holding her arm. The owner of the Ugly Stick Saloon took the microphone from Charli and faced the crowd, her face straight, serious. “Ladies, it’s been brought to my attention that we’ve had several instances of sexual misconduct against our own Deputy Jack Monahan. I ask you to please keep your hands to yourself and respect the man who was brought here to keep the peace.”

  One woman yelled, “Boo!”

  The room full of women joined her, all shouting, “Boo!”

  Bunny smiled. If she wasn’t mistaken, Audrey had something up her sleeve and she was playing the audience.

  Audrey winked. “Oh, so you like playing dirty?”

  As one, the women yelled, “Hell, yeah!”

  “Then let’s raise the stakes. For the first time in Cowboy Auction history, we’re offering up a two-fer.”

  The ladies roared their approval.

  Despite her resolve to remain unaffected by the goings on in the saloon, Bunny leaned forward, a tingle of anticipation rippling through her body. Cory hadn’t been offered up for auction yet and he’d hinted at a surprise. Was this it?

  “All our cowboys have been fabulous sports about this auction, but the last bidding opportunity we’re offering tonight is special and near and dear to my heart. Please welcome the two-fer deal of Cory ‘The stripper so hot you’ll singe your fingers’ McBride…”

  Cory danced out on the stage, wearing a vest, boots and leather chaps over a black G-string. The only thing not showing was his package, and it was swelled enough to give every woman enough information to go on. The man was hung.

  Bunny sucked in a breath and held it while her pulse pounded so loud she could barely hear herself think. Her deliveryman had been in her sex dreams and fantasies more and more often lately. Now this… Holy smokin’ cowboys!

  Audrey continued, “The other half of this dynamic duo is our very own man of peace, Deputy ‘Pull over and let me frisk you’ Jack Monahan!” Audrey handed the microphone back to Charli.

  Deputy Monahan joined Cory center stage, slipping his uniform shirt off, exposing shoulders as broad as Cory’s and equally tanned and gleaming with a fine layer of oil.

  Holy rock stars! Between the Adonis blond beauty that was Cory and the dark, rugged sex appeal of Jack, Bunny could barely breathe.

  The crowd exploded in a frenzy, all the paddles raising in the air as the bidding started.

  Bunny perched on the edge of her stool, her body trembling.

  The two men danced around the stage in sync to bump-and-grind music barely audible over the cacophony of women yelling and whistling.

  Bidding started at five hundred dollars and shot up from there.

  Not that I’m interested in bidding. Bunny mentally calculated what she had in her bank account.

  Audrey handed the numbered paddle to Bunny. “I’ll match you dollar for dollar.” She shrugged. “I won’t keep one of them, but I want to contribute to the cause. This way I can, and Jackson won’t have heartburn about it.”

  “I can’t bid on those two. I wouldn’t know what to do with one
man, much less two!”

  Audrey’s brows rose. “Seriously? Oh, honey, you really do need to get out more often. Did I ever tell you about the day I danced for Jackson, Mark and Luke on Jackson’s thirtieth birthday?” She tugged at the front of her shirt. “And I don’t mean two-stepping.” Audrey fanned herself. “Making me hot just thinkin’ about it.”

  “Audrey, you’re much more free-spirited. I’m…I’m…” Bunny glanced down at the paddle in her hand. “Not.”

  A soft hand rested on Bunny’s shoulder and Audrey leaned close. “How do you know if you’ve never tried to be?”

  Bunny shrugged. “I’ve always focused on getting my business going, getting my finances straight—”

  “Puttin’ your lousy ex-husband through school. Yeah, I can see where that gotcha.” Audrey shook her head. “That’s all well and good when it comes to running a business, but what about givin’ yourself a second chance at love?”

  “I don’t need a second chance. Once was bad enough. I don’t think I’m ready to float that boat again.” Although the two men on the stage could more than set her sails. Holy hell, they were built like brick houses, all muscle—hard, finely chiseled muscle.

  “If not for love, then date for fun or a release from stress.” Audrey threw her hand in the air. “Why not satisfy your sexual fantasies? Anything to get you out of your shell, girlfriend.”

  “One thousand dollars!” Charli shouted into the microphone. “Ladies, this is twice the spice for the money. Don’t stop now.” She nodded toward the throng. “One thousand one hundred from number forty-one.”

  “A thousand dollars?” Bunny did the math in her head. “I’d have to sell a lot of roses to afford those two.”

  “Raise your paddle. Remember, I’ll double whatever you can afford.”

  Even as Bunny shook her head, her fingers tightened around the paddle’s wooden stick. “I can’t.”

  “Yes. You can. It’s just a date,” Audrey insisted. “Think about what Cory can do with that whip. And Jack has handcuffs.”

  Cory cracked the whip, and number thirty-seven raised her paddle, bumping the bid up another one hundred dollars.

  Bunny’s heartbeat accelerated. She had over two grand in savings for a rainy day and maybe to pay off her ex when she got a little more saved. That money was not earmarked for a hot date with two sexy men.

  It still galled her to no end that Ray got half of her business in the divorce, Texas being a community property state. Out of the “goodness of his heart” Ray had let her keep the flower shop, as long as she paid him for his half over time, as a loan. He never let her forget it either, always giving her his unwanted opinion on how to run the flower shop. Spending so much money on a date would have him questioning her ability to stay in business. He might even foreclose on his loan.

  “Going once,” Charli said.

  “What?” Bunny’s breath caught and she leaned so far forward on her stool she almost slid off.

  “Going twice.” Charli paused. “They’re a steal at twelve hundred dollars. Come on ladies, won’t one of you bid thirteen hundred?”

  Bunny’s hand shook, her grip clenching on the paddle. Before she could analyze her actions, she raised her paddle.

  “Is that Bunny Leigh back there near the bar?” Charli shielded her eyes from the glare of the stage lights. “Y’all gonna let Temptation’s best florist go home with the two most drool-worthy men in the county?”

  Cory and Jack stared across the room, straight at Bunny, both smiling.

  Her pulse accelerated until she thought for certain her heart would jump right out of her chest. Her gaze panned the room, praying someone else would raise a paddle quickly before she bought the cowboy and the cop.

  Charli grinned, and before anyone else could get a paddle above shoulder-high, she pounded her gavel on the podium and shouted, “Sold!”

  Chapter Two

  Her heart screeched to a stop and Bunny nearly fell out of her seat.

  Audrey pounded her back, smiling from ear to ear. “I knew you had it in you.”

  “Oh, my gosh.” Bunny pressed a hand to her forehead. “What have I done?”

  “You’ve bought a date with two of the hottest men in the tri-county area.” Audrey wasn’t helping. Her joy didn’t make Bunny feel any better about having spent a good portion of her savings account on a single date.

  “I can’t afford thirteen hundred dollars. I have to pay the wholesaler on Monday.”

  Audrey hugged her. “I told you, I’d give you half. I wanted to contribute to the auction, and this is perfect. And I don’t have to explain myself to Jackson. You get to go home with the goods, not me.” She danced away, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be right back with a check for my half.”

  Okay, six hundred and fifty dollars was better, but still…what was she going to do on a date with two men?

  One by one, women paraded by her, some glaring, others congratulating her on her purchase.

  Mona, Bunny’s hairstylist and best friend, snuck in for a hug. “Wow, I wish I had that kind of money. Those two are priceless. I can’t wait to hear all about the date at your next hair appointment. And please, don’t scrimp on any of the details. That Cory has the moves. And Jack…” Mona pressed a hand to her chest. “Love a man in uniform.” She hugged Bunny again. “I’d give my right arm to trade places with you.”

  Bunny opened her mouth to say she could, but her gaze caught Cory’s as he crossed the room, still in his stripper outfit of chaps, G-string and vest. Every woman he passed pinched his ass.

  By the time he reached her, he was rubbing his bare ass, grimacing. “I’m not going to be much to look at with all the bruises I collected running the gauntlet.” He laughed and pulled Bunny into his arms. “Thanks.”

  “For w-what?” Bunny stammered. “You’re the one who volunteered for this gig. I should be thanking you and Jack. Look, Cory, as for the date, you don’t have to—”

  He grabbed her waist and swung her around. “Honey Bunny, you’re gonna love what we’ve got planned for you.” Cory slowed to a stop and set her down, holding her at arms’ length. “We’ll have double the fun.”

  Stunned by the bare-chested hug, Bunny struggled to breathe and to recall what she’d been about to say.

  Jack joined Cory, still shirtless and gorgeous. “Feels good to play the bad-boy cop.” He picked her up and kissed her soundly on the lips. “So when’s the big date night?”

  Her head spinning, Bunny blinked. “I don’t know.” She didn’t know what had come over her, or Jack and Cory, for that matter. Why were they interested in her now? Why did she think she could handle two men when she hadn’t dated one in years? Her gaze landed on Cory’s rock-hard chest. Holy hell, he was even more attractive with his shirt off. Feeling like a cougar, Bunny forced her attention to Jack, whose dark good looks were completely opposite Cory’s blond sexiness. Dating both men could prove to be a minefield of possibilities that might blow up in her face every step of the way. Question was, would it be a good explosion or a bad one?

  Cory was everything her ex wasn’t, and five years too young for her. If she was smart, she’d concentrate on Jack to keep from cradle-robbing the youngster. Not that Cory looked anything like a boy. Broad shoulders, tight abs and that huge black-clad bulge…

  Bunny’s thighs clenched and her pussy heated. The only way this date would work was if she kept her head together and her hands off.

  “We need time to make the arrangements,” Cory said.

  Time was good. Bunny opened her mouth to suggest a year, instead she asked, “What arrangements? It’s just a date.”

  “You know—reservations, renting tuxedoes, ordering flowers…” Cory counted them off on his fingers. “How about tomorrow night?”

  Jack grinned. “No rush.”

  Cory threw back his shoulders. “It won’t be just any date. Since it’s you, I have something even more exciting planned.”

  Bunny’s heartbeat kicked up a notch
at Cory’s air of steely confidence and the wicked gleam in his blue eyes. If she didn’t know better, she’d guess Cory was a lot older than his twenty-one years.

  “You guys don’t have to go to a lot of trouble. Pizza and a movie would be fine by me.”

  “No pizza.” Cory’s lips pressed together. “You deserve much better than just pizza.”

  Bunny crossed her arms. “I’m not into fancy dinners at expensive restaurants.”

  Cory frowned. “How fancy are you talking?”

  “Anything fancier than what we have in Temptation.”

  Jack laughed. “That narrows it down to PJ’s Diner.”

  His frown deepening, Cory continued, “I wanted to take you out to dinner and dancing.”

  “That would mean heading all the way into Dallas.” Bunny shook her head. “Too far.” And if they stayed the night in Dallas, would they share a hotel room?

  A tingle of anticipation rippled through her. Two men, one woman and a hotel room? Her breath caught and her palms grew moist. Bunny reminded herself this was only a date, not an all-nighter. Keeping it closer to home would be a better bet.

  And safer. From whom? Cory had always been the perfect gentleman when working for her, never making crude comments or moves toward her that could be construed as come-ons. And Jack was a deputy, for goodness sakes. He wouldn’t jump her bones. Would he? The thought of either of these men jumping her was ludicrous.

  Then why was her pulse pounding through her veins like a base drummer on steroids? Did she actually want them to try something wicked? Was she that brave?

  Warmth stole across her body, pooling low in her belly. Man, it had been way too long since she’d had sex with anything but her vibrator. How would it feel to have a man between her legs instead of a battery-powered toy?

  Her cheeks heated and she glanced at her hands in her lap to keep from revealing her thoughts. “I’d prefer to do the date locally.” Not to mention the other damper on that thought. “And tomorrow is out. I promised Lacey Lambert I’d go with her to the Temptation Garden Club meeting.”